Printing block for producing marbleized effects in printed floor coverings



, Aug. 12, 1930. F. G. ROTTMUND PRINTING BLOCK FOR PRODUCING MARBLEIZED EFFECTS IN PRINTED FLOOR GOVERINGS Filed Aug. 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet w T N E V I 1930. F. G. ROTTMUND 1,773,063

PRINTING BLOCK FOR PRODUCING MARBLEIZED EFFECTS IN PRINTED FLOOR GOVERINGS Filed Aug. 16 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 12, 1930. U D 1,773,063

PRINTING BLOCK FOR PRODUCING MARBLEIZED EFFECTS IN PRINTED FLOOR COVERINGS Filed Aug. 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Aug. 12, 1930. F. e. ROTTMUND PRINTING BLOCK FOR PRODUCING MARBLEIZED EFFECTS IN PRINTED FLOOR COVERINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 16, 1928 INVENTOR ED FLOOR COVERINGS Aug. 12, 1930. F. e. ROTTMUND PRINTING BLOCK FOR PRODUCING MARBLEIZED EFFECTS 1N PRINT Filed Aug. 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 o o o o o o o o T E o o o o o o o 0 ii u o o o o o oWN M o o o o o o a o H O 0 O O O O O O *NH O O O O O O O O O 0 O O O O O O m D aT W 0 m MN o o o o o o o l INVENTOR Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRED G. ROTTIEUND, F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF. PENN SYLVANIA PRINTING BLOCK FOR PRODUCING MABBLEIZED EFFECTS IN PRINTED FLOOR COVERINGS Application filed August 16, 1928.

This invention relates to the printing of fioor coverings and the like, and more particularly to a printing block for use in a printing process for the production of striated effects in printed patterns.

The invention constitutes an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in the copending application of Humphreys and Mc- Carthy, Serial No. 128,870, filed August 12,

1926. In the said application of Humphreys and McCarthy, there is disclosed a process of printing in a block printing machine wherein distinct patterns in different colors are first printed over a background of paint. The

5 printed surface is then pressed with a flat block. The flat block has the effect of destroying the outline of the different patterns and mixing the colors up and blending them to produce a mottled or marbleized effect.

After the printed pattern has thus been destroyed or mutilated to blend the colors, the paint lies unevenly on the rinted surface, and is smoothed out by lowering a mash block againstthe printed surface. This mash block has the usual pegs or projections commonly used in printing blocks over its entire surface and its function is to spread the paint.

In printing upon linoleum or similar hard surfaced floor covering, it is customary to deposit the paint or other decorative liquid upon the surface to be ornamented by means of printing blocks cut to conform to the desired pattern. The printing blocks are usually formed with the printing surface thereof having closely parallel grooves therein or having two sets of parallel grooves running at right angles so that the printing surface is formed by the ends of a number of pegs projecting from the block. In either case the grooves are for the purpose of allowing air to escape from the surface of the goods when the printing block is lowered into contact therewith, and for allowing air to flow under the printing block when the printing block lifts away from the printed surface.

\Vhere the grooves are not provided, paint is not divided evenly due to the fact that air is either trapped under the block or the suc- 50 tion created when the block lifts away from Serial No. 299,956.

the printed area causes the colors to be applied unevenly.

In the apparatus shown in the said Humphreys and McCarthy patent the block which mutilates the patterns and blends the colors together to produce the desired mot tled or marbleized appearance has smooth surfaces which engage the printed area of the goods. The suction of this smooth surface block when it lifts away from the printed surface is suflicient to cause the goods to cling to the block and be lifted up therewith. This interferes with the travel of the material through the printing machine and also distorts the painted surface to too great an extent. In 8/4 material, the upward pressure may run from 500 to 1000 pounds over an 18" length of goods, dependingsomewhat upon the pattern and the paint consistency.

According to the present invention there is provided an arrangement wherein the material is held down over the entire surface where the smooth faced block lifts away from the goods, thereby preventing the goods from lifting up with the block and assuring better results in the completed product.

It has also been found that the smooth sur face block, such as that shown in the said Humphreys and McCarthy application for blending the colors will, particularly at certain seasons of the year, accumulate a coating of wet paint thereon and that this paint will drip from the smooth surface block back on to the goods, marring the goods.

According to the present invention there is provided a wiping mechanism for preventing the paint from dripping from the smooth surface block on to the goods.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the blending block and a drip collecting mechanism arranged according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one end of the block unit shown in Figure 1, the view representing a transverse section across a portion of the width of the block printing machine;

Figure 3 represents a transverse section block printin -machine having the usual rinting bloc s with color carriages thereor- F igure 6 is a plan view showin different ste s in the printing of marbleize atterns;

. i re 7 ma side elevation of the printin b ock;

igure 8 is an inverted plan view of the block shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 isa plan view or the block shown in Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a detail view showin the mounting for the wire of the drip co lectin carriage.

t will be understood that the construction shown in the accompanyingdrawings is merely illustrative as one embodiment of the invention and that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts therein disclosed and hereinafter described in detail.

Referring first to Figure 5 of the draw ings, 2 designates the frame or bed of an ordinary block printing machine having a luralit of printing head units therealong. ne of t ese printing head unitsis desi ated 3 and is provided with a printing b ock 4. The color fountain 5 having a roller .6 is arranged to reciprocate under the block 4 and apply paint or other coating material to the rintmg surface 4 on the under side of the lock. The color fountain 5 is connected throu h links 7 with the color fountain of other fieads'in accordance with the usual practice in the art.

According to the present invention, one of the printing heads 8, instead of carrying a printin block 4 for producing a pattern, carries a b ending block 9 having those areas 10 on the under surface thereof which are adapted to contact with the printed goods formed perfectly smooth without the usual grooves or cross grooves that characterize the well known printing block or the mash block of the usual block printing machine. Due to the fact that the surfaces 10 are perfectly smooth, they tend to trap air under them when they are forced down on to a wet printed surface and they tend to create a suction when the block 9 is lifted away from the wet printed surface.

As shown in Figure 2 the fioorcovering material A is moved through the printing machine by means of endless bands 11 at each side thereof, these bands carryin pins 11 which pass through the edges of t e stri A.

The suction of the smooth surfaces 10 o the rip collecting carriage in a' printing block 9 is sufiicient to lift the material ofi the in bands 11 in the absence of mechanism or holdin the material against lifting as hereinafter escribed.

On the top of the block 9 are a plurality of spacing blocks'12. In the arrangement shown t ere is a spacing block 12 over each of the printing surfaces 10. This is best seenin igures 7 and 8. Resting on the-top. oflthe block 9 is a plate 13 having holes 14- therein throu h which the spacin blocks 12 pass. The p ate 13 is also provide with a lur'ality of small holes 15 arran ed around the larger openings 14. These ho es are preferably arranged symmetrically.

The block 9 has holes therethrough which register with the holes 15, and headed ins. 16 pass through the block 9, the headset the pins normally lyin' against the top of the plate 13. Spaced a ove the plate 13 and car-' ried on the spacer blocks 12 1s a second plate 17. Between the head of each pin 16 and the plate 17 is a compression spring 18, the purpose of this spring being. to yieldably urge the pins 16 downwardly. When the plate 13 is in contact with the block 9, the heads of the pins being down against the late 13, the lower ends of the pins-project below the smooth blending surfaces 10.

In operation, when the block 9 is lowered'to bring the surfaces 10 into contact with the' printed surface of the goods, the pins 16 are gradually forced upwardly against the compression springs 18. When the block 9 starts to lift away from the goods the pins 16 will bear against the surface of the goods and hold the goods-down while the suction between the goods and the smooth surface 10 is being broken. It will be understood that the pins are so located that they do not bear against the portions of the goods which are engaged by the surfaces 10, they preferably do not en age the squares or areas with whic the blen ing surfaces contact. With this arrangement the blending block is provided with a plurality of fingers which are effective for holding the goods down at the time when the smooth surface block-is pulling away from the wet surface'of the goods.

Upon repeated operation the surfaces '10 collect wet paint. Under some conditions of operation this paint is sufliciently fluid to form into drops, and the drops drip down on to the goods being printed and mar the pat-' tern.

In order to prevent this objectionable drippingof paint on to the oods, there is provided in place of a color ountain 5 (see Fi 126 the links 7 the same as the color fountain ure 5) a carriage 20 which is hooked up wit This carriage 20 carries a flat pan or tray 21 whose length is substantially coincident with' the length of the block 9. At each endof the carriage 20 is an upright post 22. Stretched between the posts 22 is a steel wire 23 which is held taut and which is adapted to pass upon reciprocation of the carriage from one side of the head to the other in close proximity to the surface of the portions 10 and remove any drops of paint which have accumulated thereon. Paint thus removed falls on to the drip pan 21.

In order to provide for proper adjustment of the wire 23 in the upright post 22, the arrangement shown in Figure 10 is preferably resorted to. In this arrangement the end of the wire 23 is made fast to the head of a bolt 24. The bolt 24 passes through a bushing 25. The wing nut 26 on the end of the bolt provides a means for putting the wire 23 under tension. The bushing 25 passes through a vertical slot 27 in the upright 22. The bushing 25 is provided with a lock nut 28 by means of which the osition of the bushing in the slot 27 can he adjusted and maintained. With this arrangement the wire 23 can be stretched tight, and it can be adjusted to pass the proper distance under the surfaces 10.

Since the wire 23 must pass quite close to the surfaces 10, and since the pins 16 normally project well below these surfaces, means is provided for retracting the pins 16 during the time that the drip pan carriage with its wire passes from one side of the head to the other.

To this end a lifting frame 30 is provided over the top of the head frame 8. The frame 30 is connected to the plate 13 by means of lift rods 31. The connection between the plate 13 and the lifting frame 30 ispreferably loose in one direction, the rods being slidable through the frame 30, so that the plate 13 is returned to its normal position on the top of the block 9 by means of the springs 18.

At each end of the lifting frame 30 are levers 33 which are pivotally supported between their ends on brackets 34 carried on the frame 8. I have shown two levers 33 at each end of the lifting frame (see Figure 1) On the usual block printing machine there are upright posts 35 which support rails for an overhead trolley which moves over the top of the machine and which is provided'for the purpose of handling various parts of the mechanism. Secured to the posts 35 adj acent the printing block are bars 36. The levers 33 are of such length that they extend under the bars 36. When the head 8 lifts into the position it occupies at the time when the drip carriage is passing thereunder, the levers 33 are depressed by engagement with the rails 36, lifting the frame 30, and through the lift rods 31, the plate 13. The upward movement of the plate 13 simultaneously lifts all of the pins 16 by reason of the fact that the heads of the pins 16 normally engage the top of the plate 13. The plate 13 is lifted sufficiently to bring the lowermost ends of the pins 16 substantially flush with the lowermost surface of the block 9, as shown in Figure 2.

The pins are maintained in this position during the passage of the drip carriage thereunder. When the head 8 lowers the levers 33 move out of contact with the rails 36 allowing the plate 13 to drop and the pins. 16. to be projected back into their normal position. The levers 33 instead of contactingdirectly with the bars 36 have preferably a contact with small plates 36 secured to the bars 36 and formed of hardened steel.

In Figure 6 the method of producing a marbleized efiect according to the present invention and as according to said Humphreys and McCarthy application, is shown. The continuous strip of goods, A, first has a ground coat put on each of the squares a wherein a marbleized pattern is to be printed. Sharply defined lines of different colors 6 are then printed by the successive blocks 4 into the squares a. With the exception of the Humphreys and McCarthy method, hereinbefore referred to, this has been the closest approach to a marbleized pattern which it has been considered possible to secure in a printed pattern.

According to the present invention the smooth surface blocks 10 are pressed into contact with the wet paint in the squares a, mutilating the pattern, distorting the color outlines and producing an uneven distribution of the paint. The pins 16 which hold the material down when the surfaces 10 are lift ing away from-the surfaces at engage in the squares 0.

The distorted effect produced by the smooth surface blocks 10 is indicated by the portions 6' in Figure 6. After being pressed with the smooth surfaces 10, the goods is subsequently pressed by an ordinary mash block which redistributes the paint, smoothing it out. A blended marbleized appearance as shown at d in Figure 6 is thus produced.

According to the invention there is provided a block for blending the colors having means for holding the goods down when the block is lifting away from the goods, and means for keeping the surface of the block free from drops of paint. There is also a mechanism synchronized with the operation of the printing head by means of which the holding down means are retracted at the time the surface of the block is being cleaned of accumulations of paint.

It will be understood that the drawings merely show one embodiment of the invention and that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts therein shown and herein specifically described.

I claim:

1. In a block printing machine, blocks for applying colors to be printed, a color blending block having a smooth surface thereon adapted to be raised and lowered into contact with the goods to which the colors have been applied, and means for holding thegoods down on the upward movement of the blending block.

2. In a block printing machine, blocks for v appl in colors to be printed, a color blenddecorated, of means for holding the material down on the bed of the machine against the liftin action of said smooth surface block.

4. 'Ihe combination with a block printing machine having a bed and having pin bands movable along the bed and adapted to engage material being decorated, of a smooth surface block movable down and up into and out of contact with the material, and means cooperating with said block for holding the material in engagement with-the pin bands.

5. The combination with a block printing machine having a bed and and having (pin bands movable along the bed and adapte to engage material being decorated, of a smooth surface block movable down and up into and out of contact with the material, and hold down fingers associated with said block for preventing the material being lifted off the pin hands when the block lifts out of engagement with the surface of the material.

6. The combination with a block printing machinehaving a smooth surface block, and

having a bed over which the material to be printed upon is moved, of means for yieldably holding the material down in position on the bed.

7. The combination with a block'printing machine having a smooth surface block, and having a bed over which the material to be printed upon is moved, of relatively movable old down members associated with the block for holding the material being decorated in position on the bed.

8. In a machine for printing marbleized effects on sheet material, a reciprocating rinting head having a block thereon, said block having a lurality of smooth surfaces thereon adapted to engage the material, a

luralit of pins carried on the block and dispose around the smooth surface, said pins normally projecting below the level of the smooth surfaces, and means for holding the pins down in such normal position.

9. In a machine for rinting marbleized effects on sheet material, a reciprocating printing head having a block thereon, said 1,7va,oes

block having'a lurality of smooth surfaces thereon adapte to en age the material, a plurality of pins carrie on the block and dis posed around the smooth surfaces, said pins normally projecting below the level of the smooth surfaces, and means for yieldably urgin the pins down.

10. na machine for printing marbleized effects on sheet material," a reciprocating printing head having a block thereon, said lock having a plurality of smooth surfaces thereon adapted to en age the material, a plurality of pins carrie on the block and dis posed around the smooth surfaces said pins normally projectin below the level of the smooth surfaces, an springs positioned over the top of the block and engaging said pins for ur 'ng them down.

11. n a machine for printing marbleized effects on sheet material, a reciprocating printing head havin a block thereon, said lock having a plura ity ofsmooth surfaces thereon adapted to en age the'material, a plurality of pins carrier? on the block and disposed around the smooth surfaces, said pins normallyprojecting below the level of the smooth surfaces, springs positioned over the top of the block and engaging said pins for urging them down, and means for lifting said pins to withdraw said pins out of said normal positlon.

12. In a machine for producing marbleized effects on printed material, a, reci rocable printing head, a block on said hea havin smooth surfaces for engaging the materia to be decorated, a plurality of pins on the head, the ends of said pins normally projecting below the smooth surfaces of the block, springs for yieldabl holding the pins in this position, a lifting pl ate common to all of the pins, and means for reciprocating the liftin plate on the head to wlthdraw the ends 0 the pins to a-retracted osition where they do not project below said smooth surface.

13. In a block printing machine, a smooth surface blockadapted to engage the coated surface of material being decorated, and means for removing paint which collects on the. surface of the block.

14;. In a block printing machine, a smooth surface block adapted to engage the coated surface of material being decorated, and means for removing and collecting paint which accumulates on the surface of said block.

15. In a block'printing machine, a block adapted to engage surfaces to which color has been previously applied, and means for removing accumulations of paint from said block. v

16. In a block printin machine, a printing head movable up an down with respect to the material being decorated, a block on said head adapted to engage surfaces of the material to which paint has previously been Ill Ill

applied, and means for removing paint accumulations from the surface of said block after each operation thereof.

17. In a block printin machine, the combination with a printing ead having a block thereon, of means reciprocable across the surface of the block for removing excess accumulations of paint therefrom.

18. In a block printing machine, the combination with a printing head adapted to be raised and lowered and having a block thereon with a smooth surface adapted to press against previously coated surfaces of the material being decorated, of means reciprocable across the face of the block after each operation of said head for removing excess paint therefrom.

19. In a block printing machine, a reciprocable head having a block thereon adapted to engage previously coated areas of the material being decorated, and a carria e movable back and forth across the face 0 the block having a paint collecting means thereon.

20. In a block printing machine, a reciprocable head having a block thereon adapted to engage previously coated areas of the material being decorated, and a carriage movable back and forth across the face of the block having a wire thereon adapted to remove accumulations of paint from the surface of the block, and means on the carriage for collecting the paint removed by the wire.

21. In a block printing machine, a reciprocable head having a block thereon adapted to engage previously coated areas of the ma terial being decorated, and a carriage movable back and forth across the face of the block having a wire thereon adapted to remove accumulations of paint from the surface of the block, and means on the carriage for collecting the paint removed by the wire, said wire being adjustable vertically from the carriage.

22. In a printingmachine having a reciprocable printing block adapted to effect one step in producing a marbleized pattern, hold down means associated with the block and normally projecting below the surface of the block, and means for raising said hold down means from said normal position to a retracted position, and means movable across the face of the block for removing excess paint therefrom when said hold down means are raised out' of the normal position.

23. In a block printing machine as defined in claim 12, characterized by the provision of means for cleaning the block when the pins are retracted.

24. A block printing machine as defined in claim 12, characterized by the provision of a carriage reciprocable back and forth under the head and having a wire adapted to remove accumulations of paint from the head whensaid pins are retracted, said carriage being provided with a tray to collect the paint so removed.

25. In a machine for printing marbleized effects on sheet material, a reciprocable printing head movable up and down with respect to the goods being decorated, a smooth surface block on said head, hold down means on the head yieldably projected below the surface of 'the block, means for retracting the hold down means when the head is raised above the material being decorated, and means for removing accumulations of paint from the head when said hold down means is retracted.

26. The combination with a reciprocating head in a block printing machine having a block thereon, of hold down means normally projecting below the surface of the block, means for retracting the hold down means, and means movable across the surface of the block when the hold down means is retracted for removing accumulations of paint from the block.

27. In a printing machine, a head movable up and down with respect to the goods being decorated, a block on the head, hold down means on the head normally projecting below the surface of the block, means for lifting the hold down means to a retracted position when the head is up with respect to the goods being printed upon, and a carriage movable back and forth under the head having a wire thereon adapted to remove' accumulations of paint from the block.

28. In a printing machine, a head movable up and down with respect to the goods being decorated, a block on the head, hold down means on the head normally projecting below the surface of the block, means for lifting the hold down means to a retracted position when the head is up with respect to the goods being printed upon, and a carriage movable back and forth under the head having a wire thereon adapted to remove accumulations of paint from the block, said carriage also having a drip pan thereon under the wire for collecting the paint so removed.

29. In a printing machine, a head movable up and down with respect to the goods being decorated, a block on the head, hold down means on the head, normally projecting below the surface of the block, means for lifting the hold down means to a retracted position when the head is up with respect to the goods being printed upon, and a carriage movable back and forth under the head having a wire thereon adapted to remove accumulations of paint from the block, said carriage also having a drip pan thereon under the wire for collecting the paint so removed, said wire being vertically adjustable on the carriage.

80. The combination with a smooth surface block for use in a block printing ma,

6 1,77a,oea

chine, of hold down means associated with the block, said means being movable with res ct to the block from anormal position w ere they project below the block to an inoperative position where they do not project below the surface of the block, means for raising and lowering the block, means for moving said hold down means to inoperative position when the head is up and means for removing accumulations of paint from the surface of the block when said hold down means have been raised to an inoperative position. 31. In a .block printing machine, means for applying fluid aint to a web of material in the machine, a block having a smooth sur face thereon, means for moving said block so as to bring the smooth surface into contact with the paint and a glllurality of relatively movable hold-down gers associated with the block.

a 32. In a block printing machine, means for applying fluid paint to a web of material to be rinted, a head, a blending block on the ead, said block having at least one relatively large unbroken smooth area ada ted to engage the paint surface, and a p urality of relativel movable hold-down fingers associated wit the block.

33. In a block printing machine, means for applying paint to material in the machine, a smooth surfaced block adapted to engage the paint, and means for holding the material against the suction of the smooth surfaced block.

34. The combination with a block printing machine having a bed and means for appl ing paint to a web of material lying on the bed, of a smooth surfaced blending block, means for moving the block downwardly into engagement with the freshly printed surface of the material, and means for holding the material against the bed when the block is moved upwardl In testimony whereo I have hereunto set my hand.

FRED G. ROTTMUND. 

